Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

From This Moment On

March

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Sat 04: Jake Leg Jug Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 04: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 04: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Anthropology. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 04: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £10.00.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Friday, February 05, 2021

KSTV: Adrian Cox Plays Irving Fazola - Feb. 5

Adrian Cox (clarinet/vocals); Dave Archer (guitar); Daisy George (bass); Jas Kayser (drums).

(Screenshots by Ken Drew)

Irving Fazola was the subject of tonight's musical dissertation and who better to deliver it than another clarinet wizard - Adrian Cox. Over the past few months Adrian has delved into the music of many clarinet legends such as Omer Simeon, Albert Nicholas and Jimmie Noone on his "Sunday Sermons" which are live streamed at 1:00pm every Sunday lunchtime. These are usually done solo or with one other musician so it was a real treat to hear him tonight with three other top players.

New Orleans born Fazola had a short but very productive life - he died aged 36 - playing in many bands including Ben Pollack, Jess Stacy and, most famously, with Bob Crosby picking up two DownBeat awards as number one clarinetist in 1940 and 1941. 

Cox himself should surely be in the running for an award or two, for his playing maybe even for his singing but don't put your shirt on it.

The quartet kicked off with Alice Blue Gown. Not the dirge-like waltz version but an uptempo swinger that had everyone smiling - even behind the masks you could tell they were smiling.

Am I Blue? Great tune and Adrian's vocal didn't do it any harm. One of the telling points of this stream was Jas on drums. Fazola came from New Orleans so our gal drummed appropriately lots of press rolls, and other trademarks of the Crescent City had me imagining I was parading on South Rampart St. Her solo on Hindustan combining the old traditional feeling with the rhythm of today.

Dave Archer too was at the top of his game. Playing acoustic and he took some tastily chorded solos.

Daisy George was on the money on every number and when the call came she answered it to perfection.

Another gem from KSTV.
Lance.

Alice Blue Gown; Am I Blue? Clarinet Blues; Someday Sweetheart; Hindustan; Breeze; Sympathy; Pagan Love Song; Farewell Blues.

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